How to visit Korea short-term: visa-free entry and K-ETA

Do you need a visa for a short trip to South Korea?

For a short visit you can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 90 days for short-term business or tourism, as long as you have an onward or return ticket. [3] Being employed in South Korea while visiting visa-free is illegal, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity. [3]

This route is described for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, and reflects the UK government’s understanding of South Korea’s current rules for the most common types of travel. [3] The South Korean authorities set and enforce entry rules, so if you are unsure how they apply to you, contact the South Korean Embassy in the UK. [3]

Passport validity runs alongside the visa question and depends on the type of trip. [3]

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document, or if you try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. [3]

What is K-ETA and do you need it?

South Korea operates an electronic travel authorisation system called K-ETA. [3] Anyone eligible for visa-free entry is usually required to obtain K-ETA approval before departure. [3] British nationals travelling visa-free to South Korea are temporarily exempt from the K-ETA requirement until December 31, 2026. [3]

If you do need to apply, use the Korean government’s official K-ETA website: other sites offering K-ETA application services are generally scams. [3] It can take up to 72 hours for K-ETA approval to be granted. [3]

K-ETA sits alongside the visa-free route rather than replacing it, and it is an electronic authorisation rather than a visa; the glossary covers the travel terms used on this page. [3] Travellers whose purpose is anything other than short-term business or tourism need to check visa requirements with the South Korean Embassy in the UK. [3]

Travelling for another purpose

Short-term business and tourism are the two purposes covered by visa-free entry. [3] For any other purpose, check visa requirements with the South Korean Embassy in the UK. [3]

Teaching English has its own requirements: you must have a three-year university degree, and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification alone is not enough. [3] Anyone found to have obtained a teaching visa by deception will be detained and deported. [3] For people already in South Korea on a work visa, every employment change must be authorised by Korean Immigration. [3]

What paperwork do you need on arrival?

Foreign nationals entering South Korea must submit an entry declaration form (arrivals card) to the immigration officer on arrival. [3] Instead of the paper form, passengers may submit an e-Arrival card online in advance, within 72 hours (3 days) before arrival, and there is no fee to submit it. [3] Paper entry declaration forms remain available at the border. [3]

Health screening depends on where you have arrived from. [3] All travellers arriving from ‘Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas’, including those who transited through one, must submit a health questionnaire through the pre-entry Q-Code system or on paper after arrival. [3] Travellers arriving from ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Areas’ who show symptoms must also submit a Q-Code or paper-based questionnaire. [3] The UK is currently designated a ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Area’, so travellers with any symptoms of illness must complete one on arrival. [3] The lists of areas change frequently, so check the full list before travelling. [3] Failing to complete required health screenings could result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million. [3]

Exceptions and limits

• The K-ETA exemption is time-limited: British nationals travelling visa-free are exempt until 31 December 2026, and further information about the exemption is published on the K-ETA notice board. [3]
• Visa-free entry never includes the right to work, whether as a teacher or in any other job. [3]
• Entry can be refused if you do not hold a valid travel document, or if you present a passport reported lost or stolen. [3]
• Most foreign nationals in South Korea on long-term visas may re-enter within one year of departure without a re-entry permit. [3] Residents who intend to spend more than a year outside South Korea must in most cases apply for a multiple re-entry permit through the Hi Korea website before departure, at least 4 working days ahead of planned travel. [3]
• The 90-day visa-free route covers short-term business or tourism only; for anything else, check visa requirements with the South Korean Embassy in the UK. [3]

Frequently asked questions

Do British citizens need a visa to visit South Korea?

For stays of up to 90 days for short-term business or tourism, no visa is needed as long as you hold an onward or return ticket. [3]

Is K-ETA the same as a visa?

No. K-ETA is an electronic travel authorisation that people eligible for visa-free entry are usually required to obtain before departure, and British nationals travelling visa-free are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026. [3]

How long does K-ETA approval take?

It can take up to 72 hours for approval to be granted. [3]

Can you work in South Korea without a visa?

No. It is illegal to be employed in South Korea while visiting visa-free, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity. [3]

What passport validity do you need for South Korea?

For a tourist visit of up to 90 days, your passport must have an expiry date after the day you leave South Korea; for entry on a long-term visa, it should expire at least 6 months after you arrive. [3]

Related pages

Terms: travel authorisation, entry requirements, passport validity. Browse the full glossary for the other terms used across the encyclopedia.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Visa categories issued by the South Korean Embassy, long-term visas and work visas are not covered here; the entry rules described apply to travel on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK.

1. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: South Korea travel advice, entry requirements, checked 18 October 2026